Fantasy Football Week 4: Notable Players Who Should Be Dropped

For fantasy football owners, drafting a player is a lot like entering a relationship.

You pick them up at the perfect time when they're available, cultivate that courtship in the preseason by learning everything possible and believe in them despite your friends' criticisms.

And, like relationships, sometimes it's easy to see when things aren't working out and it's time to cut bait early on. Other times, there is so much potential there that you hang on too long and wind up ruining your season (or life).

Well, luckily, we're here to help you—at least with the fantasy football advice. Here's a look at some notable players you can feel free dropping before we head into Week 4 action.

After coming into this season with all of the hoopla you would expect from a player with Moss' name-value, the production has been exactly what you would expect from a 35-year-old receiver who was out of the NFL last season.

Moss' Week 1 score was nice and gave all of his owners hope, but he's little more than a novelty item at the end of both San Francisco's and your fantasy team's bench at this point. Jim Harbaugh hasn't made him part of every offensive package, meaning he's either uncomfortable with his talent level or grasp of the playbook.

Either option is a bad sign for Moss owners.

It's highly likely that he breaks out for one huge game this season where he goes over the 100-yard barrier and scores two touchdowns. Moss simply won't be productive enough on a consistent enough basis to know when that will happen.

With a cavalcade of better, more consistent options out there in most leagues, feel free to cut the 49ers receiver and take your chance with a younger guy.

Peyton Hillis (RB, Kansas City Chiefs)

Timothy T. Ludwig-US PRESSWIRE

Regardless of the severity of Hillis' ankle injury, he's droppable in every league unless being used as a Jamaal Charles handcuff.

Limited to just six carries in Week 2, many were suspecting that Charles' knee injury had been re-aggravated and that Hillis would be in line for more carries.

Well, that didn't happen. Charles answered just about every question imaginable with his 33-carry, 233-yard performance on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints and will almost surely be the unequivocal No. 1 back going forward.

Considering Hillis' ineffectiveness last season, his injury history and status as a backup, he should not be on a roster outside of deep 16-team leagues.

Justin Blackmon (WR, Jacksonville Jaguars)

Phil Sears-US PRESSWIRE

After the unprecedented success of rookie receivers A.J. Green in Cincinnati and Julio Jones in Atlanta last season, many expected similar things out of Blackmon in 2012.

Unfortunately for the Jaguars and Blackmon owners, that rookie season breakout does not even look remotely close to happening. Through three games, the former Oklahoma State star has just four catches for 31 yards—only one of which has come in the past two weeks.

The worst part is that he's been targeted 15 times this season—a paltry 26.7 percent catch rate. That inefficiency speaks to Blaine Gabbert's inaccuracies, Blackmon's route running or simply a complete lack of chemistry between the two.

No matter, outside of keeper or franchise leagues, you should cut Blackmon and quit waiting for a breakout that likely won't happen this season.